I adore historical fiction, and this is such an interesting premise. I recommend because of the story itself, writing style, and its ability to transport you into a different world/time period.

This author's story was sure powerful, engaging and will at times make you cry. Simply because of the cruelty that was portrayed throughout the book.
I love this author's stories immensely! She has done her research spot on and has developed a wonderful story.
I simply couldn't put it down!
Gohlke shows us that much hasn't changed between the human races.
She does a super job of bringing the story to life.
Celia and Minnie are two of my favorite characters. I loved their strength and endurance and stubbornness of course.
Those traits are what's going to get them through the hard times.
I was cheering them on the whole way through!
However; at the same time there were characters that I disliked too. One such person was Grayson. He was too hard for me to like much.
I loved the name of No Creek. It was definitely unusual considering.
I took my time in savoring this book because I didn't want it to end!
A book that is well worth the read. I highly recommend!
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Another beautifully written dual time story by Cathy Gohlke brings readers back to the small town of No Creek in the Carolinas.

Both stories take place during war, eighty years separating them: The Civil War and World War 2. Not much changes in the way of racial relations in the small isolated town. The underlying tension is palpable, and one grieves along with both heroines at the hatred exhibited toward others in their community. Two families battle against the evil (in the past and still in the 40s), though united, they stand apart. The stories almost feel impossible to resolve as layers are peeled back and the heroines fight the battles around them.

The Civil War storyline was dark and heavy. As I read Minnie’s journey and her fight to free her family’s slaves before they lost the war, I could almost feel her fear. And the fact that her own family unit was divided in the cause, created an interesting turn.

The Second World War storyline, though a bit lighter, still presented the same racial tension, though through the relationships of others and in different parts of the world.

As always, Cathy Gohlke provides a compelling narrative with thought-provoking passages.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I just finished reading A Hundred Crickets Singing by Cathy Gohlke. As with all of the books I’ve read by Ms. Gohlke, I was in love with it and the characters. I also read her book NighT Bird Calling, which is something of a prequel to this novel. Some of the same characters are in both books.

The book begins in 1944, during the Second World War when a violent storm causes a tree to go through the attic roof at the Belvidere home and unearths a secret room that contains a false bottom trunk that holds a diary and papers for the manumission of slaves from that long-ago plantation. Celia Percy, whose family lives and works in the home and grounds thinks that this revelation could be life-transforming for her friend, Marshall Raymond.

In 1861, Minnie Belvidere is trying to keep the family together. Her mother has died and she, along with her trusted and loved slaves, tries to keep the household running. Minnie and Elliott and their father are determined that their slaves, who are more like family to them, will be set free as soon as it is possible and less dangerous to them. Circumstances deny that these manumission papers even exist and Grayson betrays them all.

This book serves to show the reader that segregation during and directly after the Civil War was no different in the 1940s. During the Reconstruction period, the KKK terrorized both white sympathizers and blacks with their deadly attacks and murders. The KKK was comprised of influential citizens and racial fanatics who kept their association with that group a secret. While reading this novel and enjoying the writing of Ms. Gohlke, it also brought the plight of those people who lived during these dangerous times. It seems that we are still living in those times even now. It is a shame that we are still experiencing racial inequality and injustice, both black and white.

This was an excellent book and I highly recommend it.

A Hundred Crickets Singing is a standalone novel, but I highly recommend readers reader the first book Night Bird Calling, so the back stories that are hinted at are familiar and help tightening the elements during the Civil War era. Right away, it was nice to see Celia again. She is a returning character, but she is not a little girl anymore. She has grown into quite a young lady. I love her as a character. She is strong, forceful and stands up for what is right no matter what others think or might do to her. Reminds me a lot of me. I do like how readers will see her compose letters to Joe, a friend of Marshall, while he is serving overseas during World War II. I do enjoy the peeks into the letters in the story. They deepen the story, not subtract from the overall action. There is some romance in the present story line too. Of course, this did happen during World War II. On the other hand, the Civil War era story really gripped my heart. I agree with Minnie, her father, and her older brother Elliot. I really hated her younger brother, Grayson. I wanted to see him get his just rewards. He was a spiteful character filled with plenty of hate and anger. I do enjoy how Gohlke tied the two stories together nicely and had me happy in the end. Overall, I am not a fan of Civil War era stories, but Gohlke does a wonderful job at the story that I forgot I was reading a part Civil War story. I highly recommend everyone read this story.

I received a complimentary copy of A Hundred Crickets Singing by Cathy Gohlke from Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

A HUNDRED CRICKETS SINGING is an historical novel by CATHY GOHLKE which takes place in No Creek North Carolina, in 1944, following on from Night Bird Calling, with Celia Percy, now fifteen, and her brother Chester, coming across a secret room in the old Belvidere mansion, after a storm in which a tree crashes through the roof, revealing secrets from the 1860’s. I love to see how Celia, together with her friend Joe Rosetti, old Dr Vishy and rhe Willards, determines to make things right for their friend Marshall and the coloureds in their community by completing the work begun by Minnie, her parents and her brother Elliott. I also like the references to works by Dickens and Hugo and their influence on the story.
We see racism at its worst, in spite of two wars that should have shown mankind that all men are equal in the sight of the Lord and all men bleed the same colour red. We see the KKK still going strong in the South, and prejudice all over the world breaking up families and nations. It is awful to see Grayson’s greed as he betrays his family and what they stand for.This cry, found in Minnie’s diary,“The persistent, conflicting voices of all those I love, spoken and not, are deafening - a hundred crickets screeching, shouting in my brain. The mounting tension is intolerable.Help us Lord!” really speaks to Celia - will the cry of the crickets ever turn into a song?
This is a beautifully written novel, with the author’s incredible way of saying things just as they are and her understanding of human nature. There is a strong Christian message, and, amongst other insights, we see that it is only the Lord who can change the human heart .
Although this book can easily stand alone, I suggest you read the fisrst book in the series for pure pleasure.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Tyndale House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.